Question In a paragraph, analyze the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention. What problem did it solve? What were the alternatives? (4 points)

Answer 1

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a pivotal agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that resolved the contentious debate over legislative representation. It addressed the conflict between larger states, which favored representation based on population—as proposed by the Virginia Plan—and smaller states, which advocated for equal representation regardless of size, as put forth in the New Jersey Plan. The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives, where representation is proportional to state populations, and the Senate, where each state has equal representation with two senators. This compromise not only balanced the interests of both large and small states but also paved the way for the adoption of the United States Constitution. Alternatives to this compromise would have likely led to significant divisions and a failure to create a central government, potentially resulting in the disintegration of the Union or fostering ongoing conflict over governance.